Bongi Mbonambi may have to spend six months on the sidelines due to a knee injury, says John Plumtree, head coach of the Sharks.
The very injury forced the 32-year-old hooker to leave the rugby field early during this year’s World Cup final against New Zealand.
“Bongi may be out of action for six months,” says Plumtree.
The Sharks recently returned from a United Rugby Championship tour to Europe where the team lost all four matches.
Further bad news for the Sharks is that another two-time World Cup winner, Vincent Koch, may be out of action for up to three months – also due to a knee injury.
Mbonambi was recently the subject of discussion for rugby fans worldwide after English forward Tom Curry accused him of making a racist remark towards him in the World Cup semi-final. However, World Rugby found insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation and closed the case.
The Springboks will only play against Ireland again in July next year in a series of two tests. The Irish beat the Springboks in a World Cup group match, but lost to New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
